HARRISBURG- While many states have watched their economies improve since the
recession ended, a new report reveals a different story in Pennsylvania - one
in which the state has watched job growth plummet to among the worst in the
nation.

Stephen
Herzenberg, executive director of Keystone Research Center, says a report being
released by his group shows Pennsylvania's 2010 rank of seventh among states in
job creation has dropped to 48.

"We're
managing to accomplish a slowing of our recovery," he says. "That's a
clear indicator that we're on the wrong track and we need a reversal of state
policy."

Herzenberg
stresses reductions in education funding in recent years - and refusing federal
Medicaid expansion dollars - represent the kinds of choices that are holding
Pennsylvania back in its economic recovery efforts.

He says
the Corbett administration misread the fallout from cuts to education, which
resulted in thousands of teachers and support staff losing their jobs.

"That's
also slowing down the private-sector economy," he says. "Those folks
aren't buying groceries, they aren't shopping at other small businesses.

"Relative
to other states, Pennsylvania's recovery has been limping along."

Moving
forward, Herzenberg says Pennsylvania would be wise to take an exact opposite
approach to some of the decisions made since 2010.

"Middle-class
families will enjoy more prosperity and opportunity if we invest in education,
if we invest in infrastructure, if we raise our state minimum wage," he
maintains. "A shift away from cuts to investing in the future."